Myers-Briggs

Personality Type

Indicator – MBTI

Career Enhancement Committee

Kathy Prem

University of Wisconsin-Madison

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Introduction to Type Theory

Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung developed a theory early in the 20th century to describe basic individual preferences and explain similarities and differences between people

Main postulate of the theory is that people have inborn behavioral tendencies and preferences Your natural response in daily situations

Used when we are generally not stressed and feel competent, and energetic

Could be defined as those behaviors you often don’t notice

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Innate Preferences

Exercise:

Write your name

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Development of the MBTI

Instrument

Jung’s theory important but inaccessible to the general population

Isabel Myers and Katherine Briggs (mother-daughter team) expanded on Jung’s work by developing an instrument to help people identify their preferences

The MBTI tool is an indicator of personality type (i.e. innate preferences) that has proven to be remarkably reliable and valid Represents the result of over 50 years of research

Is used globally in both education and corporate settings; over 2 million people each year

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Value of the MBTI

Distinctions from other psychological or career based tools

Does not assess psychological health

Does not “tell” the client what to do or be

Involves client feedback and “agreement” to Type

Involves no scaling or value

Inherent strengths and weaknesses associated with each

type profile

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Structure of the MBTI

The MBTI instrument uses four dichotomies to identify preferences, which are then combined into one Type

A dichotomy divides items into 2 groups where there is no

continuum or value implied

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Four MBTI Dichotomies

Extraversion – Introversion Where do you prefer to focus your attention – and get your energy?

Sensing – Intuition How do you prefer to take in information?

Thinking – Feeling How do you make decisions?

Judging – Perceiving How do you deal with the outer world?

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Caution: MBTI Word Usage

Words used to describe preferences in psychology do not mean the same thing as they do in everyday life

Extravert does not mean talkative or loud

Introvert does not mean shy or inhibited

Feeling does mean emotional

Judging does not mean judgmental

Perceiving does not mean perceptive

Etc.

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E- I Dichotomy: Source of Energy

Most people who prefer Extraversion: “I like to talk to people”

Prefer action over reflection May act quickly w/out

thinking

Are attuned to external environments

Prefer to communicate by talking

Learn best through doing or discussing

Are sociable and expressive

Enjoy working in groups

Most people who prefer Introversion: “I like to read a book”

Prefer reflection over action May not take action at all

Are attuned to inner world

Prefer to communicate in writing

Learn best through thorough mental practice and reflection

Are private and contained

Enjoy working alone or in pairs

Which is worse: no interruptions or frequent interruptions?

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What is your E - I preference?

Exercise

When you are going to a large party, what do you do?

What do you consider a large party or group?

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S - N Dichotomy: Take in Information

Most people who prefer Sensing: “I like to learn the facts”

Emphasize the pragmatic

Prefer facts & details/ specific information

Are oriented to present realities

Value realism

Observe and remember specifics through 5 senses

Build carefully and thoroughly to conclusions

Trust experience

Most people who prefer Intuition: “I like to imagine

possibilities”

Emphasize the theoretical

Prefer general concepts/ high-level plans

Are oriented to future possibilities

Value imagination

See trends and patterns in specific data

Use a “sixth” sense

Move quickly to conclusions, follow hunches

Trust inspiration

Which is worse – no sense of present reality or no sense of future possibilities?

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What is your S-N preference?

Exercise

How did you decide whom to support?

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T-F Dichotomy: Decision Making

Most people who prefer Thinking: “I like to decide logically”

Are analytical

Use cause-and-effect reasoning

Solve problems with logic

Strive for objective standard of truth

Described as reasonable

Search for flaws in an argument

Fair – want everyone treated equally

Most people who prefer Feeling: “I like to consider people”

Empathetic

Guided by personal values

Assess impact of decisions on people

Strive for harmony and positive interactions

Described as compassionate

Search for point of agreement in an argument

Fair – want everyone treated as an individual

Which is worse: working in an environment that lacks logic or that lacks harmony?

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What is your T-F preference?

Exercise

Little League Coach for the championship game and you can only take 11 of 13 players to the game

What do you do? How do you choose?

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J - P Dichotomy: Lifestyle

Most people who prefer Judging: “I like to organize my

schedule”

Are scheduled/organized

Strive to finish one project before starting another

Like to have things decided May decide things too quickly

Try to avoid last-minute stresses; finish tasks well before deadline

Try to limit surprises

See routines as effective

Most people who prefer Perceiving: “I like to adapt to changes”

Are spontaneous/flexible

Start many projects but may have trouble finishing them

Like things loose and open to change May decide things too slowly

Feel energized by last-minute pressures; finish tasks at the deadline

Enjoy surprises

See routines as limiting

Which is worse: “winging it” or adhering to a schedule?

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What is your J-P preference?

Exercise

Sending you on a vacation

$5,000

What do you do? How do you go about it?

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Why should we care?

Individual Benefits: Gain insights into personality

Reduce your defensiveness

Increase your openness to feedback (clues) from what is

going on around you

Enhance your ability to appreciate differences in yourself

and in others

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Why should we care?

Staff Benefits: Appreciate others

Make constructive use of individual approaches

Allow for creative problem-solving; Different types approach problems in different, yet valid ways

Understand and adapt to leadership’s management style

Respect people’s work preferences

Improve communication among supervisors, peers,

employees, customers

Example

Approach to staff meetings that accommodate both

introverts and extraverts?

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Communication Breakdown

Ideal Leader is…

Extravert: action-oriented

Introvert: contemplative

Sensing: pragmatic

Intuitive: visionary

Thinking: logical

Feeling: compassionate

Judging: planful

Perceiving: adaptable

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Understanding Type in “uncomfortable” situations

Potential Pitfalls Characteristics when under stress or “uncomfortable” (out of

Type)

ExamplesOvercrowded schedule may force you to exhibit more judging

traits than you may prefer

Team projects may force you to work as an extravert; brainstorming, talking through problems vs. thinking them through on your own

Concrete information may be more valued more than “gut-feeling” approach

Staff meeting may focus on everyone’s involvement first, when you would prefer to address the task first.

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To Take to the Office with You

With similar types on a team:

The team will understand each other easily and quickly

Will reach decisions quickly, but will be more likely to make errors

due to not taking in all viewpoints

May fail to appreciate gifts of the “outlying” types

With a variety of types on a team:

Longer to establish communication between the members of the

team

Less likely to overlook possibilities and details

Longer to reach consensus

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Occupational Trends by Type

ISTJManagementAdministrationLaw enforcement

Accounting

ISFJEducationHealth care

Religious settings

INFJReligionCounselingTeaching

Arts

INTJScientific or technical fieldsComputers

Law

ISTPSkilled tradesTechnical fieldsAgricultureLaw Enforcement

Military

ISFPHealth careBusiness

Law enforcement

INFPCounselingWriting

Arts

INTPScientific or technical fields

ESTPMarketingSkilled tradesBusinessLaw enforcement

Applied technology

ESFPHealth careTeachingCoachingChildcare worker

Skilled trades

ENFPCounselingTeachingReligion

Arts

ENTPScienceManagementTechnologyArts

ESTJManagementAdministration

Law enforcement

ESFJEducationHealth care

Religion

ENFJReligionArts

Teaching

ENTJManagement

Leadership

Source: From Introduction to Type and Careers, A.L. Hammer, 1993, Consulting Psychologists Press

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What IS your Type?

Composite Type

One letter from each dichotomy

Sum equals more than the parts

It represents the dynamic interactions among the preferences in your type

No hierarchy among the types; each identifies normal and valuable personalities

1. Today’s discussion – self-estimate or assessment of your type

2. MBTI results will report the preferences you choose on the Indicator

3. Final type assessment requires agreement between self assessment and MBTI responses

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